I Can’t Say No | Boundaries

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Addiction is an isolating disease, for both the addict and those who love him or her. The addicted individual becomes preoccupied with obtaining, storing, and hiding the supply of drugs and/or alcohol, so much so that relationships to themselves and others take a backseat. Similarly, family members detach from the outside world due to feelings of guilt, shame, fear, sadness, and disappointment. The destruction that addiction leaves behind is unlike any other illness.

handIndividuals who are in active addiction are unstable and unpredictable. They will lie, cheat, and steal in order to keep the disease alive. Oftentimes, family members live in a constant state of fear — the addict’s erratic behavior causes stress, anxiety, suspicion, paranoia and doubt. As boundaries become distorted, the entire family system deteriorates. Family members may enable, rescue, or attempt to control the addict — with good intentions — but the relationship is all but destroyed.

You, as a family member, are the problem solver and the fixer. You love taking care of the people you love. What you don’t realize, is that each decision you make, like doing something for someone else, might cross an invisible line, which takes you away from doing something for or taking care of yourself. It is not wrong to take care of others, as long as there is a balance with taking care of you. It’s like balancing a scale. If it’s weighted too heavily on one side then the scale is unbalanced. We are people, not scales, and our balance comes from setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in our relationships with others.

It’s time to find balance and set healthy boundaries to begin enjoying life again. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

  • “’No’ is a complete sentence.” A co-dependent relationship, especially one that involves addiction, takes power away from the family member and passes it onto the addict and his or her disease. While the first step of codependency recovery is admitting powerlessness over the loved one’s addiction, the end result is to gain control of you. Remember, no one can make you do anything — your actions are a reflection of your choices. “No” is a complete sentence and will serve you well as you embark on your own journey of recovery.
  • “If it’s good for you, it’s good for everyone.” Les Carter, Ph.D. is the author of a self-help workbook appropriately called When Pleasing You Is Killing Me. In this book, readers learn about the unhealthy patterns of people-pleasing and find the balance between serving others and proper self care. Similar to putting on your oxygen mask in an airplane before assisting others, making a decision that is good for you will positively impact those around you.
  • “If you need an answer right now, the answer is no.” Addicts have a way of manipulating any situation. Oftentimes, this includes putting unnecessary stress and pressure on family members to make important decisions immediately. Most situations that require hefty decision-making take time and prayer. If the addict in your life demands an answer, simply tell him or her no. Remember, No is a complete sentence.
  • “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” The highly esteemed Eleanor Roosevelt uttered this poignant statement, and it still rings true today. You are in charge of your actions, thoughts, and words. If you feel inadequate or less than, you gave someone permission to treat you as such. Be kind to yourself — you are enough.

Healthy Communication
Communication is everything in a relationship. Poor communication leads to frustration and resentment, while effective communication results in understanding and mutual respect. If you feel anxious, resentful, worn out, smothered, disregarded, disrespected or hurt, it’s safe to assume that your boundaries have been violated. Below is a constructive technique for expressing your feelings to the addict in your life:

1)   “When you [ actual behavior ], I feel [ emotion ] because _______________.”

2)   “I prefer/want/need [ specific action ] because ______________________.”

3)   “If you continue [ actual behavior ], I will [ specific action ].”

It’s important to note that once boundaries have been infringed upon, you must follow through with the appropriate consequences. Be patient — implementing effective communication techniques and setting healthy boundaries will not ensure overnight changes, but you will begin to experience improvements in your relationship with the addicted loved one over time. Most importantly, you will notice positive changes in yourself.

This Post Has 11 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    This is very true…I don’t know how to say no…I feel I am sicker than my addict…Fixing him is my addiction!

    1. Anonymous

      One way to “grow your no” is to literally practice saying it out loud. If you have never heard yourself say no, then you don’t know the power it can give you – even in an empty room. I love that the article says “no” is a complete sentence. You do not have to explain yourself; you are not crazy for not giving in to an addict’s view of reality.

      You may feel silly, but just think about how all speakers practice before their speeches. “No” and “I love you” are not opposite statements. Practice them together to help your own self understand that they DO go together in the face of addiction.

  2. Pamela Goodart

    I had to say no after 25 yrs, got off that Rollercoaster, not that I didn’t love that person I had lost myself , still not easy still love and care for them just had to take care of me for a change .

  3. Anonymous

    Without boundaries, it’s called being addicted to your addict.

  4. Anonymous

    After years upon years, I have finally stopped the manipulation and taking care and supporting a brother that doesn’t want to help himself . I said NO and stuck to it. I was mentally and physically, killing myself. I still pray for him and love him but, can’t help someone that doesn’t want to help himself. Very, very sad to watch what drugs has done to him and his sweet daughter as well as breaking up his marriage. Addictions included drugs, pornography, gambling , alcohol … Lost all his jobs over drugs. Also, ruined his health… Heart attacks, no compliant with his meds/ diabetes, pacemaker and on and on. Before the drugs he was such a fun, brilliant guy.
    From a heart-broken sister in Ga

    1. Debra L Marquez

      I have the same situation. I am just becoming so resentful because I have set boundaries, yet he does not respect them and manipulates his way back into my life. He wants everything to be great between us but I have so much anger and resentment – I just end up being mean to him. I am overwhelmed stressed and feel hopeless.

      1. Matthew Shedd

        Thank you for sharing that situation with us, Debra. It sounds incredibly painful. Please feel free to reach out to our clinical team. They have extensive experience working with family members of people in active addiction. You can talk to them for free by call 678-405-5623.

      2. Lety

        I feel exactly like this, it’s become so frustrating and I’m filled with anger, and resentment is kicking in pretty quick. I sometimes have to sit alone in my room or bathroom and cry and ask God for forgiveness for feeling like this towards someone I loved for years and still do. He doesn’t respect my boundaries and manipulates his way back in, I have kicked in out plenty of times and it’s not to punish him because he’s not a child, it’s to get myself back together, even if it’s a day to myself, just to feel a little normal again, but then I end up checking on him by phone, just to make sure he’s okay and sometimes alive. It’s a really sad way to live. I don’t even know if the relationship was real to begin with because of all the lies. I forgive him every day (for myself) I don’t like feeling like this towards anyone…

  5. Steff

    How to handle a alcoholic who uses alcohol to escape into her bed when you don’t live with them? What kind of boundaries do I set other than leaving if my radar goes off? She doesn’t get drunk publicly, she just disappears to her hiding places in her home.
    Her problem has escalated to the point of us having the police do a well citizen check in which she was hospitalized. She agreed to go to treatment and is there.
    I just need a plan for when she gets out. Thank you.

    1. Matthew Shedd

      Hi Steff,

      Thank you for reaching out. These are good things to be planning for ahead of time. I would recommend calling to speak to one of our counselors at 678-405-5623. They are very experienced with working with family members in situations similar to yours.

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